Systems, methods, and apparatus for smart multi-tier power running board with ground sensing technologies

Abstract

An apparatus, a system, and a method for providing a smart multi-tier power running board (PRB) with ground sensing technologies. The apparatus includes one or more support bars, one or more steps, an actuator connected to one end of each support bar of the one or more support bars, one or more sensors, and a controller coupled to the actuator and the one or more sensors. The controller is configured to: obtain data indicative of a request to move the one or more support bars from a stowed position to a deployed position; determine, based on sensor data detected by the one or more sensors, the deployed position for moving the one or more support bars; and control, based on the determined deployed position, the actuator to move the one or more support bars from the stowed position to the deployed position.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An adjustable running board apparatus for a vehicle, the apparatus comprising:
 a plurality of steps movably attached to the vehicle and configured to move between a stowed position and a deployed position;   one or more actuators coupled to the plurality of steps and configured to:
 cause the plurality of steps to move between the stowed position and the deployed position, and 
 adjust a position of each step of the plurality of steps in the deployed position; 
   one or more sensors attached to at least one of the plurality of steps or the vehicle, the one or more sensors being configured to detect sensor data related to a ground clearance between a ground and the vehicle; and   a controller coupled to the one or more actuators and the one or more sensors and configured to:
 obtain data indicative of a request to move the plurality of steps from the stowed position to the deployed position, 
 determine, based on the detected sensor data, the position of each step of the plurality of steps in the deployed position such that a first distance between the vehicle and a first step of the plurality of steps is equal to a second distance between two consecutive steps of the plurality of steps, and 
 control, based on the determined position of each step of the plurality of steps, the one or more actuators to move the plurality of steps from the stowed position to the deployed position. 
   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the position of each step of the plurality of steps in the deployed position is determined such that the first distance is equal to the second distance and a third distance between a second step of the plurality of steps and the ground or a truck bed on the vehicle. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the plurality of steps are movably attached within a threshold distance from a component on the vehicle, the component being a door, a roof, or a tail gate on the vehicle, the adjustable running board apparatus being configured for ingress or egress of, respectively, a cabin space, the roof, or the truck bed on or within the vehicle;   the sensor data includes information related to a highest point of the ground below the component on the vehicle; and   the determination of the position of each step of the plurality of steps in the deployed position includes a determination of a distance between the component on the vehicle and the highest point of the ground and an even division of the distance between the component on the vehicle and the highest point of the ground based on a number of the plurality of steps to be deployed.   
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the sensor data includes information related to the ground clearance between a truck bed on the vehicle and a roof on the vehicle;   the adjustable running board apparatus is configured for ingress or egress of the roof on the vehicle from or to the truck bed on the vehicle; and   the determination of the position of each step of the plurality of steps in the deployed position includes a determination of a distance between the roof on the vehicle and the truck bed on the vehicle and an even division of the distance between the roof on the vehicle and the truck bed on the vehicle based on a number of the plurality of steps to be deployed.   
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the one or more sensors include at least one of a RADAR (Radio Detection and Ranging) sensor, a LIDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) sensor, or an image sensor; and   the one or more sensors are attached to an exterior component or the adjustable running board apparatus on the vehicle.   
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the determination of the position of each step of the plurality of steps in the deployed position is further based on a predetermined maximum distance of the first distance. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the determination of the position of each step of the plurality of steps in the deployed position is further based on a predetermined minimum distance of the first distance. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the controller is further configured to receive, from a remote device in data communication with the controller, user input data indicating the maximum distance of the first distance. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the determination of the position of each step of the plurality of steps in the deployed position includes determining a deployment angle of the plurality of steps such that the first distance is equal to the second distance. 
     
     
         10 . An adjustable running board system for a vehicle, the system comprising:
 a plurality of steps moveably attached to the vehicle and configured to move between a stowed position and a deployed position;   one or more actuators coupled to the plurality of steps and configured to cause one or more steps of the plurality of steps to move between the stowed position and the deployed position;   one or more sensors attached to at least one of the plurality of steps or the vehicle, the one or more sensors being configured to detect sensor data related to a ground clearance between a ground and the vehicle; and   a controller coupled to the one or more actuators and the one or more sensors and configured to:
 obtain data indicative of a request to move the one or more steps from the stowed position to the deployed position, 
 determine, based on the detected sensor data, a number of steps of the plurality of steps to be moved from the stowed position to the deployed position, and 
 control the one or more actuators to move the determined number of steps from the stowed position to the deployed position. 
   
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein:
 the one or more actuators are further configured to adjust a position of each step of the determined number of steps in the deployed position; and   the controller is further configured to:
 determine, based on the detected sensor data, the deployed position for moving the determined number of steps, and 
 control, based on the determined deployed position, the one or more actuators to move the determined number of steps from the stowed position to the deployed position. 
   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the determination of the deployed position of the determined number of steps includes a determination of a position of each step of the determined number of steps such that a first distance between the vehicle and a top step of the determined number of steps farthest from the ground is equal to:
 a second distance between two consecutive steps of the determined number of steps, and   a third distance between the ground and a bottom step of the determined number of steps closest to the ground.   
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the determination of the number of steps of the plurality of steps to be moved from the stowed position to the deployed position is further based on a predetermined maximum distance of the first distance. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the determination of the number of steps of the plurality of steps to be moved from the stowed position to the deployed position is further based on a predetermined minimum distance of the first distance. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the controller is further configured to receive, from a remote device in data communication with the controller, user input data indicating the maximum distance of the first distance. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein:
 the plurality of steps are movably attached within a threshold distance from a component on the vehicle, the component being a door, a roof, or a tail gate on the vehicle, the adjustable running board system being configured for ingress or egress of, respectively, a cabin space, the roof, or the truck bed on or within the vehicle;   the sensor data includes information related to a highest point of the ground below the component on the vehicle; and   the determination of the number of steps of the plurality of steps to be moved from the stowed position to the deployed position includes a determination of a distance between the component on the vehicle and the highest point of the ground and an even division of the distance between the component on the vehicle and the highest point of the ground.   
     
     
         17 . An adjustable running board system for a vehicle, the system comprising:
 a plurality of steps moveably attached to the vehicle and configured to move between a stowed position and a deployed position;   one or more actuators coupled to the plurality of steps and configured to:
 cause one or more steps of the plurality of steps to move between the stowed position and the deployed position, and 
 adjust a position of each of the one or more steps in the deployed position; 
   one or more sensors attached to at least one of the plurality of steps or the vehicle, the one or more sensors being configured to detect sensor data related to a ground clearance between a ground and the vehicle; and   a controller coupled to the one or more actuators and the one or more sensors and configured to:
 obtain data indicative of a request to move the one or more steps from the stowed position to the deployed position, 
 determine, based on the detected sensor data, a number of steps of the plurality of steps to be moved from the stowed position to the deployed position, 
 determine, based on the detected sensor data, the deployed position for moving the determined number of steps such that a first distance between the vehicle and a first step of the determined number of steps is equal to a second distance between two consecutive steps of the determined number of steps, and 
 control, based on the determined deployed position, the one or more actuators to move the determined number of steps from the stowed position to the deployed position. 
   
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the determination of the number of steps of the plurality of steps to be moved from the stowed position to the deployed position is further based on a predetermined maximum distance of the first distance. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the determination of the number of steps of the plurality of steps to be moved from the stowed position to the deployed position is further based on a predetermined minimum distance of the first distance. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the controller is further configured to receive, from a remote device in data communication with the controller, user input data indicating the maximum distance of the first distance.